Review – Zontes 125M – small, but handy

It’s been a few editions since we tested the Zontes 310M here, and now comes its little sister, the Zontes 125M. With an appearance very similar to the larger of the two, this new scooter from the Chinese brand doesn’t seem to differ much from what we felt and saw in the 310M. But after a few kilometers, is that what we felt?

Zontes has been extremely active in the market over the last two years, with many new launches in the various segments, offering a huge range of options for all tastes. Now, in the urban mobility segment, more specifically in the low-cylinder scooter segment, comes the 125M. Yes, at first glance it differs little or not at all from the larger 310M, but there are some differences between them, apart from the obvious power deficit.

SMALL BIG ENGINE

And it’s precisely the power that we’ll start with. The block that powers this scooter is an engine produced by Zontes itself, with 124.7 cc and 14.5 hp of maximum power. And something we immediately feel is the availability of this little heart of the 125M, which, despite not being the most exciting to start immediately, manages to travel smoothly and even quite quickly through the entire rev range. The truth is that on faster starts, this engine has a somewhat delayed response to the throttle, as if it needed a few seconds to deliver all the power. You therefore have to count on this waiting time if you want to make a more demanding start. But this is only the case when you’re at a standstill, as it’s a very different story when you’re on the move. The 125M’s almost 15 hp always seem to be available in any rev range, and this little scooter can reach 80-90 km/h with relative ease. In return for reaching these speeds, this scooter’s top speed is limited to 115 km/h, something that we really shouldn’t consider a disadvantage or a defect, given that it’s a 125 cc bike. The vibrations caused by the engine are felt more in the lower rpm range, but are much less as the speed stabilizes. We were also able to keep the fuel consumption to around 2.6 liters, which is quite positive considering all the EURO5 restrictions that lead to even more intense use, which in this case included some expressways at very high revs. With a 12-liter tank, the task of refueling is something we can delay for several kilometers.

ERGONOMIC AND PLEASANT

As nice as this Zontes 125M’s engine is, it’s important that the bike’s handling matches it. And when it comes to riding a 125cc scooter, ergonomics are very important. Interestingly, despite its very similar appearance to its big sister, the 310M, this scooter has a somewhat different riding position. The handlebars are just the right width for riders of medium height and the seat is located 10 mm lower than on the 310M, allowing us to sit in line with the handlebars in a comfortable and natural position. The legroom is also pleasant and the whole thing offers a very pleasant riding position for both city trips and longer journeys, even on highways. Where the Zontes fell a little short was in the comfort of the seat, as it revealed some discomfort after a few kilometers, practically on all types of roads. However, this slight discomfort is disguised by the good absorption of irregularities by the front suspension and double rear shock absorber. On our “famous” Portuguese cobblestones, the 125M showed exemplary behavior, maintaining comfort and smoothness. Even so, the limit of the suspension, and especially the rear shock absorber, appears early for a slightly heavier rider, or one who regularly rides with a passenger. In the braking department, we can count on one disc at the front and one at the rear, both with ABS. The rear brake seems to be more precise than the front, where we felt that despite having enough power, it could offer greater precision and a less “spongy” feel, despite both levers being adjustable.

TECHNOLOGY AS A BIG BOY

There’s no denying it, technology is becoming more and more of a given, whatever the price range or range of motorcycles. As the years go by, we no longer see high-quality, feature-packed dashboards only on top-of-the-range bikes, now they’re available in all market segments! So, for the price range of this Zontes 125M – under €4,000 – this little scooter has some very interesting technological attributes. The color LCD panel is the same as the one that equips other bikes from the Chinese brand and features numerous functions and presentations, from cell phone connection to lots of information about the bike. The navigation buttons on the right and left of the handlebars are also the ones we’re used to seeing on Zontes bikes.

There’s also red illumination on the buttons as standard, electronically adjustable glass, electric seat opening, a keyless ignition system and full LED lighting. But the technology continues in the storage space, with a USB port in the front compartment on the left, which allows you to charge your smartphone on the move. On the right-hand side, there is also a smaller storage space. As for under-seat space, the Zontes 125M isn’t the most generous scooter and it’s difficult to fit a full-face helmet (as the brand claims) unless it’s quite small.

READY FOR THE COMPETITION

Zontes, like so many other Chinese brands, is betting big on the European market and has quickly distanced itself from the “Chinese” image that we might have thought of a few years ago when talking about motorcycles from that part of the Asian continent. After the 310M, the 125M is proving to be a strong competitor to the A1 scooters already on the market. A pleasant engine, good ergonomics in the riding position, lots of technology, less than 150 kg and an attractive price are just a few points that could make us consider this scooter for our daily commute. And with the pace at which the brand has been introducing new features and improvements to its current models, it wouldn’t be surprising if this 125M is soon to be reinforced.

THE BEST/ ENGINE, WEIGHT, TECHNOLOGY

IMPROVED/ BRAKING, SPACE UNDER THE SEAT